P.J. Thompson to Participate In Summer International Trip

It is not the breaking news we have been waiting for, but Purdue does need experience at the point guard position. What better way to get it than a summer playing ball overseas?

Sophomore point guard P.J. Thompson was selected to play with the USA Eagles this summer against professional teams in Mongolia and China:

Purdue men's basketball rising sophomore guard P.J. Thompson has been chosen to compete with the USA Eagles, a collegiate select team that will play exhibition games against professional teams in China and Mongolia.

The trip will begin with a five-day training camp in Dayton, Ohio, on May 23 and will depart from China on May 28, before returning to America on June 9.

"This is a really big opportunity for me to get better as a leader on and off the court and to gain great experience while seeing a different part of the world," Thompson said. "This will only help me get ready and prepare for the upcoming season."

Thompson will be one of approximately 10 collegiate players from all over the country that will take part in the exhibition tour, which is beneficial for players that "want to use basketball as a chance to grow leadership and character development. Many different players and coaches from all over the country will be coming together with one goal and that is to understand what their role is as leaders," trip organizer Luke Simons said.

The team will play six or seven games against squads from the Chinese Basketball Association. The league has produced NBA players Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer and Yi Jianlian. A limited number of foreign players are allowed for each team and have included NBA All-Stars Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Gilbert Arenas and Tracy McGrady in addition to CBA All-Stars Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith and Aaron Brooks.

So, great job, P.J.! this is invaluable experience for next season.